Leicester City 2 Blackpool 0

Leicester City moved into the play-off places for the first time this season following a 2-0 win over a determined Blackpool side at the King Power Stadium.

Andy King put the hosts ahead in the first-half with a cool finish after latching on to Lloyd Dyer's clever through ball.

And the points were secured eight minutes from time when Dyer raced ahead of the Blackpool defence before squaring the ball to Neil Danns who fired home from eighteen yards.

It was Leicester's second consecutive home win, and the three points ensured that the Foxes remain unbeaten since the return of Nigel Pearson, taking seven points from nine.

However, it was Blackpool who started the game strongly and could have gone ahead when Matt Mills' poor clearance fell to Jonjo Shelvey, but the Liverpool loanee fired over the bar.

But the hosts started creating chances and came close when Sol Bamba, who was recalled to the squad, then headed wide from a Paul Gallagher corner, before Jermaine Beckford's snapshot flew just past the post.

On the half-hour mark, Kasper Schmeichel was forced into making a superb point-blank save from a Gary Taylor-Fletcher header from six yards.

At the other end, Blackpool goalkeeper Matt Gilks was equal to a Jermaine Beckford strike, making a fine save at his near post.

The home side did take the lead on 37 minutes when Lloyd Dyer beat his defender before sliding the ball through to Andy King, who slotted the ball underneath Matt Gilks.

It was a well-worked goal and demonstrated Leicester's organisation and ability to withstand pressure and take their chances.

The Foxes were much improved in the second-half and should have doubled their lead when Jermaine Beckford latched onto a poor back pass, but his shot did not trouble Matt Gilks.

Matt Mills headed just over from a corner kick before Matt Gilks was on hand again to superbly save another Jermaine Beckford strike.

Paul Gallagher and Andy King linked up well on the right-hand side, playing the ball behind the Blackpool backline, but Jonjo Shelvey was on hand to clear at the right time in what might have been a wonderfully worked goal.

The introduction of Steve Howard and Neil Danns gave Leicester a boost with just over twenty minutes remaining, and the two linked up to create a good chance to double the lead, with Howard firing just over from 25 yards.

But Danns did score Leicester's second with eight minutes remaining when Lloyd Dyer raced ahead of the Blackpool backline before squaring the ball to the former Crystal Palace man, who cleverly slotted the ball into the net from just outside of the area.

It was a fine goal and testament to Danns' excellent performance since entering the game as a substitute.

David Nugent should have made it 3-0 after finding himself one-on-one with Matt Gilks, but his curling shot fell just wide of the post.

Andy King fired wide in injury time, but the points were already safe as Leicester moved into the top six for the first time in eighteen months - when Nigel Pearson was initially with the club in 2010.

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